It’s important to keep your horse on a schedule.

Horses thrive on consistency. They learn to anticipate when they will be turned out and fed. A good routine can keep them healthy and happy. It will reduce their stress and ensure all their needs are met each day. Each barn will have their own way of doing chores and tasks, so you’ll need to customized your routine based on you and your horses unique needs.

The Morning Routine

• Most start off the day by feeding their horses breakfast. This can consist of grain, supplements, and hay or pasture. If the horses are outside, they’re usually brought into a stall of their own to reduce food aggression and competition. Some find success with outdoor feeders though.
• Next, the horses are usually turned out for the day. They’re moved to a pasture or field, which allows them to enjoy socialization and movement. Some will wear fly masks and sheets in the summer or blankets in the winter. These should be put on before leaving the barn for the day.
• Water buckets should be emptied, scrubbed, and refilled each day. This includes outdoor troughs and buckets in stalls.
• Stalls will need to be mucked. Manure and wet spots should be removed from the stall. Each one should be filled with clean bedding. Manure can be composted or put in a spreader. Don’t forget to prep your stalls for this evening if you plan to leave them in, which consists of water and hay.
• Any small paddocks or run-in sheds can also be cleaned of manure.
• Tidy up the inside of the barn by putting away your mucking supplies and sweeping the aisle.

Mid-Day Check

Not all barn owners will do an afternoon check. This will depend on your work schedule and other commitments you have. If you do have time, it can be a good idea to reapply fly spray, check water troughs, and check over the herd.

The afternoon is also a good time to groom and exercise your horse. Make sure to check them over for cuts, swellings, or any injuries. You should brush their coat and pick out their hooves. Exercise can be in the form of riding, lunging, or in-hand work.

Horses thrive on consistency. They learn to anticipate when they will be turned out and fed. A good routine can keep them healthy and happy.

The Evening Routine

• Most horses are fed grain twice daily. They can be brought into their stall, fly mask and blanket removed as needed, and fed their dinner.
• If you have quite a few horses, it can be a good idea to prep grain and supplements for the next morning.
• If your horses are staying inside, then go through the barn and pick any last- minute manure spots and double check water buckets.
• Some will be turned out for the evening at this point.
• Give your barn aisle a quick sweep.
• It’s important to go down the aisle and double check all stalls are locked. Don’t forget to turn off the lights for the evening.